A country girl goes to the big city where she faces the lures of glamor and temptation mingled with the wiles and snares of deceit. All this could become ruinous or could be overcome by hard work and attention to the values which motivate good choices.

Customer Service

Friday, September 4, 2015

And when we get together, it is so much fun! Never too old to remember and tell stories

Looking at a bid sheet and there we are!

Really cute, but the supervisor's office would have something to say.

Yeah! That means undoubtedly I am excited for another opportunity to sign my book More Than a Ticket Memoirs Flying with American Airlines from Props to Jets at the Salt Lake International airport.WHERE: Terminal 1 After you go through Security and are heading to the escalator with all your luggage, I will try to stop you. Well, you have a couple of hours. Before you board the escalator, I will be seated at a table in front of Weller Book Works.WHEN: October 9thTIME: 8:00 til 12:30 noon

If you are taking a flight, drop by and say "hi." Wouldn't it be fun to meet or greet!

Now comes the treat of the day! MaryLou said I could do this, so it is my "best of the day" to share. This is one of the chapters in the book. The photos are not included in the text of this blog. I don't know how to do that. Have to buy the book to see the photos with the text. At the end of this you wilI see them--they are great. This has been edited for spacing and for the many photos.

Page 207
MaryLou Parkes Whipple
AMERICAN AIRLINES STEWARDESS, 1955–1959
MaryLou and I happened to get the same flight. Seniority
and knowledge of the equipment is everything with airlines.
I happened to like to fly to Texas and could hold that bid
line. More often than not, I would fly with different stewardesses.
Some months the pairing would be more compatible
than others, and MaryLou and I were very compatible.
We had a lot in common and became friends.

And now from the words of MaryLou:

"Approximately fifty-five years after the events of my years with American
Airlines my memory is extremely weak. Only some awkward thoughts come to mind because I have no journals or records, and the years are a blur to me. In 1955, I believe we had to be 21 to fly. I was first accepted by
Western Airlines to join their Stewardess program, but then they went out of business. A secretarial job opened a few miles from home with American
Airlines’ engineering office which I took and loved. I never wanted to leave.

At that time Lockheed was building an Electra (a turbo prop) for American
Airlines, and I helped with some promotional work for that.

I had such a glorious time at the newly built stewardess college in Fort
Worth, Texas. I remember strutting around in bathing suits with so many
beautiful girls around the pool with instructors’ eyes upon our every move,
the entire time there. The instructors knew everyone’s name the moment we
entered. They were fantastic women. Their eyes followed us along the cafeteria
line and every other move we made. They had to make sure we did things
just right. Emergency training was the most critical. What was it, six weeks?
Whew!
The moments in those weeks when a student disappeared from our view were especially sad. Their bags had already been packed for them, and they
were led to the awaiting taxi. We had a wonderful dormitory, big classrooms,
gorgeous grounds, and a beautiful huge main hall with a wide curving staircase
where we would meet our guests. Elvis Presley was dating one of the

girls. We all hung over the balcony to see him and his friend come to pick up
their dates! Silly us.

There were so many procedures to ready the flight for passengers. We’d been well trained, so by the time we flew even the little details such as counting
the bottles of liquor was no biggee. Today, I can’t imagine serving so much coffee and tea and carrying it up and down the aisle. All the training we
went through led up to our being able to “work” a flight along with a regular
crew. Oh the thrill and anticipation of our first experience in flight, of where
we would be assigned, and of learning to use different types of equipment in a
timely manner.
Unfortunately, I am a very independent person, and I tried so hard to fit in with a group, or with my roommates, or whatever. I determined to wait with my roommate to go down to the field with her. She was a gracious Southern girl, but slow. I managed to go with her, only to learn that I missed my flight!
Surely, I would be sent home, I thought! Luckily, they gave me another assignment.
From that moment, I became myself again: independent, on-time,
and successful, but often a loner.
Graduation time was beautiful. We had received our uniforms: dark blue for winter, tan for summer, all measured to fit to our body shape perfectly.
There were military pressed creases, even in the blouse underneath our suits.

Photos: Local newspaper
clipping announcing
MaryLou’s
graduation.
MaryLou’s graduating class. She is on the back row on the stairs, the fourth from the bottom.

We also had a flight topper to put on when we served food and a heavy, heavy
beautiful dark blue wool coat for winter locations. Our shoes were spectators,
tan and white, as I recall. I remember getting my shoes. I flew from Fort
Worth to Los Angeles for a day’s shopping. My dear sister Kay met me at the
airport, and we found the perfect shoes in an expensive Beverly Hills store, as
I recall, then back I flew. Of course the Army-style caps over very short hair
topped off our uniform. Our hair had to be above the collar—a must!
Our class made up a fun song to the tune of the music from The Bridge over the River Kwai, a 1957 British World War II film. Unfortunately, I can’t
remember the lyrics we used for the last line.
Today we’re going to march with you,
Today we make our grand debut,
Soaring, forever soaring,
Ta da-da-da-da; da, da-da, de-do!

We sang as we marched through circling pathways to the graduation
grounds! I can almost hear it ringing in my ears right now.
The other big hubbub was about where we would be located. I was thrilled to receive Los Angeles as my base. It is my birthplace. As it turned out, if I had a few days off, I could be at home with Mom and Dad in North Hollywood.
That was the best! If I had a quick turn-around, I had a nearby apartment with other American Airline Stewardesses. It was a little tricky when I served on standby and had to be at the Los Angeles Airport (a small little
airfield) in an hour. My uniform stayed ready to jump into when I drove from
North Hollywood. Once I forgot my jacket, and Daddy drove it down to me
when I was almost already in the plane. There were no freeways then, it was
city streets all the way! There were also no jetways in those days. We had to cover our heads with the American Airlines scarf and walk out across the
windy tarmac to our flight.
I served as Stewardess in mostly DC–6s and DC–7s (Douglas Aircraft
Company planes). They allowed about 100 passengers tops, and it was an
eight-hour flight from coast to coast. I remember spending all-night flights
hoping to visit with a passenger and not sit and just look at the Exit sign and
take coffee to crew.
On those LAX-NYC flights we usually always had movie stars on board.
The one I remember best was Dick Powell as he sat back in the lounge with
me on an all-night flight. He was wonderful to visit with!

Photo:MaryLou on a plane.

On one NYC-LAX flight, the usual fog rolled in over Los Angeles, and we had to actually land in Burbank. As I lived close, I had some great young
movie stars drop me off at home from their rental car as they drove on to Los
Angeles. If I remember correctly, Tab Hunter was among them. Hollywood
tours were always offered to us. We met Pat Boone and other show people. It
was a great life.
In the East, when it was cold, the passengers entered and gave us their coats as we welcomed them on board. We had to tag their coats with seat numbers
and hang them up for them, returning each one to the correct person just before
deplaning. Whew!
Here are some highlights that come to mind about flights and layovers:
bidding vacation replacement, which meant I had four flights to New York a
month! I loved seeing the sights, five star hotels, walks all over Broadway, and
seeing the high rises! The Empire State Building was the tallest! I also loved
my three-day layovers in Chicago where the Museum of Science and Industry
became my weekly stop over. On June 19, 1933, the Museum of Science and
Industry opened its great doors for the first time. It was the first museum in
North America to feature interactive exhibits.

Anytime we wanted a short leave it was available to us; I was off to Mexico
every other month. I had a special blood doctor in Mexico City of whom I was fond. His name was Enrique (my father’s name) Hurtado. I shared a flat
there with a girlfriend and her brother, the Brianos from San Luis Potosi. It
was past the bull ring, and we could walk there on dirt paths from downtown
Acapulco (on the beach). She worked at Las Brisas. We knew all the hotels,
the morning and afternoon beaches, and every other place in town. I remember
water skiing every day and jumping the ramp occasionally. I would ski until the very last second I needed to catch a taxi to the Acapulco Airport,
practically flying in my bathing suit.
The run from LAX to Fort Worth was delightful as there were some fine
young men who took us water skiing on Lake Arlington! The rental car
companies treated stewardesses very well and gave us cars. In fact, everyone
treated us like royalty. In Dallas, a pink Cadillac limousine would take us
shopping.
It was the crews in the LAX to Dallas runs that were the best: We went
bowling! What a lot of fun with the whole crew and then huge steak dinners
for just $1 or $2. The prices were out of this world, and shopping was great at
Neiman Marcus. I did all my Christmas shopping there; no sales tax. Sorry,
California, but I don’t like tax.
The best part of those LAX to Texas flights was flying over the Grand
Canyon—what a sight that was from the air! It was exciting for the passengers
to hear the Captain’s voice point out places of interest.
In the summer in St. Louis the big outdoor park had Broadway productions,
great musicals, and the powers that be put in extra chairs up front just for us
stewardesses. No charge, of course.

In the propeller planes we didn’t reach the heights they do now, and it was not unthinkable to occasionally get tossed about and have sudden drops
because of the updrafts and downdrafts due to weather with exciting cloud
activity. In coach class one time, I had 19 babies and rough weather. After the meal service, all the babies got sick, then their mothers, and then me, running
into the bathroom to throw up in an air sickness bag. Those were a must on our
flights. What an awful feeling and smell with no escape.

The short hops were not quite so exciting—San Diego, Douglas/Bisbee—
but sitting in the cockpit in an early morning into Phoenix was the biggest
thrill to watch the sunrise. One flight out of New York into Tucson with a
plane load of snow birds, was horrible. It was snowing in Tucson, probably
for the first time ever. What a lot of grumbling passengers.
I enjoyed going to Detroit and attending church there. We usually always
included a ferry trip over to a city in Canada, I believe. It was quite an experience.
One of the best parts of my benefits was having mother and dad travel
a bit. Other than Mexico, American only flew in the United States, so Mom and Dad did have great travels in Mexico City, attending the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico with dazzling costumes that kept them in another world of music and dance. We also visited the pyramids, Xochimilco, Taxco, Guadalajara, and Acapulco, where we stayed at the beautiful Majestic Hotel overlooking the bay and had huge fruit plates for breakfast. Daddy had fun swimming in
the pool and shopping for his grandchildren. I got terrible sunburns. We hit all the sights, and then Mom and Dad took a grand train trip to the other coast and enjoyed many other cities, including Vera Cruz. They even met some
Mormon missionaries there.
Another really memorable trip on American Airlines was to Boston. I walked the historical city and saw the opening release of Around the World in
80 Days. It seemed like we were doing just that. Then on down the coast to
New York, Washington D. C., the White House, Lincoln Memorial, Washington
Monument, then crossing the Potomac to Washington and Jefferson’s
plantations. Arlington Cemetery with its Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was
one of the most outstanding memorials at the time. I think we all had one of the best experiences of our lives.

Then the jets came. I met Argie Hoskins who flew as stewardess on the Boeing 707 Inaugural Flight. She is a delightful girl and the only Mormon I
met in the business. We were doing what we do best! Does that sound familiar?
We were the best! I’m so happy to have happy, exciting memories with the carrier of our choice, American Airlines.
Following my career with American Airlines, I continued to live with a
spirit of adventure. I went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Humanities and
a master’s degree in Communications from
Brigham Young University. After that I
worked as an office manager for the prolific
Hollywood producer Albert Zugsmith in
addition to teaching in the Los Angeles
Unified School District. I eventually
retired as manager with the Walt Disney
Company and decided to serve a mission
for my church, The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. My call was
to Melbourne, Australia, and I loved
it. One will find me now “living on the
edge of the sea” in La’ie, Hawaii.

Photos: MaryLou in front of a Lockheed Electra.
A newspaper clipping about American Airlines.
MaryLou is the fourth from the bottom.

Passenger letter from flight number 2 from Los Angeles to New York on August 25, 1958. It
reads:
The flight has been enjoyable in every way, particularly because of the efforts of the hostess,
Miss
Parkes. She has been very helpful and friendly. Her service has been unobtrusive, as the best
always
is. Yet her manner conveyed a warmth that immediately put us at our ease. She did everything
possible
for us to ensure a comfortable, pleasant trip.
Signed, Miss Joann M. Baumert

Passenger letter from flight
number 3 from New York City
to Los Angeles on August 26,
1958. It reads:
My wife and four children
flew from LA to NYC on flight
2 July 31. When putting my
family on the plane, I recognized
the 2 hostesses as ones
with whom we had flown
previously. My wife reports
that, as always, the hostesses
were most courteous
and helpful with the young
children.
I should like to express

our gratitude to them, and our
appreciation to the company
for the selection of such excellent
personnel.
Signed, Mr. M. S. Marvin

Passenger letter from flight
number 731 from Chicago
to Tucson on November 20,
1958. It reads:
On this flight there were two
blond young ladies, both very
efficient. But may I say the
Miss Parkes was most gracious
and kind.
Signed, Mr. and Mrs.
Julius M. and Gertrude L.
Schoen

Passenger letter from flight number 76 from Los Angeles to Cincinnati on August 15, 1958. It
reads:
Air travel is a new experience to me and a delightful one. This is an enjoyable flight with
American.
Your stewardesses are most concerned for passenger comfort and happiness. I find them superior
to
stewardesses on other air lines. They are charmful and helpful young women. I shall look
forward to
other trips, flying with American.
Signed, Mrs. Dean Brill
P. S. I liked having a choice of drinks. Some other airlines do not.

Passenger letter from flight number 3 from New York to Los Angeles on August 29, 1958. It
reads:
I would like to thank you and your fine organization for the wonderful flights I have experienced
in
the last few years.
Right now we are cruising at 20,000 feet, and I am enjoying every minute. The two fine
stewardesses
we have are just wonderful, polite, efficient, and extremely helpful. I have just returned from
Europe and have been on a plane for the last 21 hours, but right now I feel as if it has been one
hour.
Thank you and your fine company again.
Signed, Mr. Chancford Morence Jr.

Passenger letter from flight number
76 from Los Angeles to Cincinnati
on October 24, 1958. It reads:
Dear Sir: I would assume most
of these memos are complaints,
however, I wish to express
my opinion relative to the
services rendered on this flight.
Personnel very courteous and
accommodating, food excellent,
public consideration very good.
It is appropriate to commend
Miss Jerry Coher and Mary
Lou Parkes for their passenger
consideration and courtesy
extended on this flight. They
make a fine team worthy of their
assigned responsibilities.
Signed, Mr. Forest F. Duwe

Passenger letter from flight number 2 from Los Angeles to New York on August 25, 1958. It
reads:
I wish to call to your attention the excellent manner and efficiency displayed by one of your
hostesses on this flight, Miss Parkes. I do a great deal of flying, and she stands out in my mind as
being the best hostess I have seen.
Signed, Mr. Martin Tahse

Note from supervisor in red reads, “MaryLou, our sincere thanks to you for being such an asset
to the
Stwd. Corps! Jan E.”

The book is full of stories! Enjoy! Enjoy! Here are some of the photos from the book. MaryLou continues to be a wonderful friend. She is kind, caring, brilliant, funny, determined and a true friend. Mahalo for writing a story for the book. Come puddle with me.